Table 2.

Instigating factors for knee arthroplasty malpractice claims, their distribution, rates of successful litigation and associated costs

Instigating factor		Number of cases			Percentage defended	Total cost
	Total registered	Total closed	Defended	Claimant paid
Infection	44	32	14	18	44%	£1,239,847
Fracture	5	5	2	3	40%	£58,728
Nerve injury	17	15	8	7	53%	£330,107
Vascular injury	5	5	1	4	20%	£528,917
Thromboembolic	8	6	3	3	50%	£124,647
Operator error	57	40	25	15	63%	£902,474
Non-operative site injury	2	2	1	1	50%	£19,726
Ongoing pain	58	35	21	14	60%	£1,385,158
Post-operative care	43	29	13	16	45%	£719,811
Leg length discrepancy	1	1	1	0	100%	£0
Dislocation	2	0	0	0	0%	£0
Stiffness	4	2	1	1	50%	£56,465
Total	246	172	90	82	52%	£5,365,880